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December 6, 2004 12:12 PM

'Phishing' Attacks Surge In 2004


Excerpt: The number of online identity theft attacks known as "phishing" surged in 2004, a practice that has now established itself as the main threat facing individual and corporate Internet users, according to study by MessageLabs released Monday.


The number of online identity theft attacks known as "phishing" surged in 2004, a practice that has now established itself as the main threat facing individual and corporate Internet users, according to study by MessageLabs released Monday.

The firm said it has intercepted over 18 million phishing e-mails so far this year, which may mark just the beginning of a wave of attacks aimed at individuals and specific companies.

In September, for example, MessageLabs found the number of phishing messages soared to over 2 million from just 279 in the same month a year earlier.

Companies have faced targeted threats ranging from the blackmailing of online gaming sites to threats of sending out child pornography in the name of a particular organization, according to MessageLabs.

The perpetrators of the attacks, who use fraudulent e-mails to solicit confidential information by impersonating banks and other institutions, have also developed new techniques in the hopes of illegally gaining private information from their victims, according to the study. See earlier story on protecting against online threats.

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Read all 21 posts in the same category of Spending:

Cell Phone Calls In Flight? - Dec 09, 2004
Holiday Tipping - Dec 09, 2004
Tunes Coming To Callers? - Dec 08, 2004
Electronic Ways to Pay Eclipse Checks in Number - Dec 07, 2004
The Trouble With Rebates - Dec 07, 2004
Customers Tire of Excuses for Rebates That Never Arrive - Dec 07, 2004
Bush Signs Internet Tax, Special Ed Bills - Dec 05, 2004
The Wide World Of Online Shopping - Dec 04, 2004
Shopbots: Your Own Automated Shopping Assistant On The Web - Dec 04, 2004
Traveler: Know Your Options - Dec 04, 2004
Worried Merchants Throw Discounts at Shoppers - Dec 04, 2004
Regifting 101 - Dec 02, 2004
Health Costs Up 7.5% - Dec 02, 2004
5 Popular Holiday Shopping Scams - Nov 30, 2004
Slick Tips for Holiday Shopping - Nov 28, 2004
Give Gifts That Give Back - Nov 28, 2004
Tips For Stretching Your Holiday Budget - Nov 26, 2004
Meet The Bargain Hunters: Three Everyday Experts Share Their Tips - Nov 26, 2004
Smart Holiday Shopping - Nov 25, 2004
Some Shoppers Find Fewer Happy Returns - Nov 07, 2004